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Thomas Merton is, of course, multi-faceted, and he himself struggled with the legacy of "Seven Story Mountain" for it had been heavily edited by the Monastery and is rather bland compared to what he later had published when he 'broke' his self-accepted shackles. This is not to diminish the gift that one finds in this book.

His Journals, are an amazing read. Even in his 'I am towing the line (because the authorities forewarned me)' phase, "; "Seeds of Contemplation" has great value.

His poetry, for me, except the one about his brother, is so-so.

I have somewhere, probably in England, a gift, of what was truly one of his most amazing mediums of expression - photography. A pilgrim who taught me how to weave baskets, when I lived as a hermit in Shropshire, England, gave a gift given to him, an actual first-take photo of Mertons', also signed by him.

He corresponded with Father Sophrony. Fr. Sophrony, himself, showed me the letters. He loved Athos, though never managed a visit, and he had deep love for Orthodoxy.

When he was allowed to live as a hermit what strikes one is not only his faithful adherence to the Rule of Prayer, but the freedom, given by Gethesame Monastery, to express himself finally in all facets, good and bad.

This is, for me, the especial value of his 'Journals'. They are a wonderful, fascinating insight of a monk who through his art, expressed the Merton that he knew himself to be.

In India I met one of the three Abbots who were at the Bangkok Conference when he reposed, and who signed the "Death Certification" - what struck me about all this, was that within the Roman Catholic Church, verified by this Cistercian Abbot, was present a strong opinion, 'he got what what he deserved, his unusual death is testimony to his wandering soul and betrayal of the Roman Catholic Church'.

This is unfair and unfortunate. Rather he dared to write of that which moved his heart. In this, I personally find no fault.